Jussie Smollett tells jury he paid men for coaching tips, not to fake attack on himself | Chicago

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Josie Smollett took the witness stand at his trial on Monday and told the jury he wrote a $3,500 check to a friend for advice on nutrition and training, not as a payment to the man and his brother for helping him launch an anti-gay racist attack. on himself.

The former Empire TV actor has testified about accusations, which he denies, that he lied to Chicago police about an attack in 2019.

The brothers said last week that he orchestrated the mock attack as a propaganda act.

When asked by the defense attorney if he had paid his friend, Abimbola Osundairo, a sum for some kind of sham attack, Smollett replied, “Never.”

In January 2019, Smollett said he was walking to his home in downtown Chicago around 2 a.m. when two men approached him, shouting racist and anti-gay insults, beat him, doused him with bleach, and wrapped a rope around his neck.

Police began a hate crime investigation, but Smollett was later charged with the attack because he was unhappy at work and wanted to drum up publicity to help his career.

On Monday, Smollett, 39, told a jury how he grew up in a tight-knit family of six children and began performing as a child actor before getting involved in music.

He said he “dealt with my sexuality” in his early twenties, when he became involved with charitable organizations, including a group that fights HIV and AIDS within black communities.

He said he auditioned for a role on the show Empire for a gay singer because he had never seen a black man portrayed this way.

Smollett said he met Osondaero in 2017 at a club, where he learned Osondaero was also working for the Empire group.

He said the two men took drugs together and went to the bathroom, where Smollett said they “split up.

When asked if he regretted his drug use, Smollett said, “Of course. I’m sitting here in front of the jury and in front of my mom, and I have to explain it.”

Brothers Abimbola and Olabingo Osondaero said Smollett masterminded the hoax, giving them $100 for supplies that they were paid $3,500 to carry out.

When asked by the defense what the purpose of the payment was, Smollett replied, “For my training. For my training.”

Defense attorneys noted that the brothers were eager to accuse Smollett of masterminding the hoax because they hated him and saw an opportunity to make money.

They noted that after police questioned the two brothers about the alleged attack, they asked Smollett for $1 million each for not testifying against him at trial.

Smollett’s lawyers also argued that Chicago police rushed to sentencing when charges were filed against Smollett, and suggested that a third person may have been involved.

Former Chicago Police Detective Michael Theiss has dismissed the charges, testifying last week that detectives clocked nearly 3,000 hours of what they thought was a “horrific hate crime” before concluding that Smollett had committed a hoax.

During the trial, prosecutors said Smollett was unhappy with Empire studio’s response to the hate mail it had received.

Brett Mahoney, who produced Empire in Chicago, testified earlier Monday that Smollett contacted him after sending a hate letter depicting violence against him to the group.

“Obviously we are all very upset with the letter,” Mahoney said, adding that law enforcement authorities have been contacted and the letter has been handed over to the authorities.

He said Smollett agreed to add specific security measures.

Smollett denies felony disorderly conduct. The trial is continuing.

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